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Joseph Savarino, the grandson of legendary Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, was charged Monday with misdemeanor drunken driving in connection with a collision that killed a 15-year-old bicyclist.
Savarino, 26, admitted to drinking before the incident Saturday night, and a breathalyzer measured his blood alcohol level at 0.11 percent, according to Durham County court records. The legal limit is 0.08%.
The boy was riding his bike in northwest Durham when Savarino’s vehicle struck him, according to police. Savarino was tested with the breathalyzer about an hour after the incident, according to a police affidavit.
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(Left) Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski watches the first half of a game against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the semifinals of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La., April 2, 2022. (Right) Joseph Savarino, 26, was charged Monday with misdemeanor drunken driving in connection with a collision that killed a bicyclist 15 years old. (Robert Deutsch/Imagn Images; courtesy of Durham County Sheriff’s Office)
Savarino made his first court appearance Monday, and a judge revoked his driver’s license before releasing him on $100,000 secured bond. The bond was posted by Debbie Savarino, Joseph’s mother and Krzyzewski’s daughter. She is the assistant athletic director at Duke.
PK Press Club Digital reached out to Savarino’s attorney, Butch Williams, but did not immediately respond.
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Joseph Savarino, 26, was charged Monday with misdemeanor drunken driving in connection with a collision that killed a 15-year-old bicyclist. (Courtesy of Durham County Sheriff’s Office)
Savarino’s brother and another of Krzyzewski’s grandsons, Michael Savarino, pleaded guilty to DWI in July 2022 following an incident in November 2021.
Michael Savarino was driving a vehicle owned by then-Duke and current Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero in November 2021. As part of his plea deal, he was sentenced to 12 months of probation, fined, required to perform community service, and completed a treatment program.
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Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils attends practice before the Final Four of the 2022 men’s basketball tournament at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 1, 2022. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Banchero was charged with DWI, but the charges were ultimately dropped.
Savarino, who was 20 at the time of the incident, was a substitute for his grandfather’s team and played in 13 games.
